Greenhouse-bench.



J. H. PEADECK. GREENHOUSE BENCH.

AHLIOATION FILED we. 1a, 1910.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

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JOHN HUGO PLADECK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GREENHOUSE-BENCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN HUGO PLADEOK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, Elmhurst, borough of Queens, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Greenhouse-Bench, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to provide a bench for the earth employed in greenhouses, so arranged and constructed that the same may be dumped with ease and quickly; and to provide an economical, eflicient and durable construction for a frame for holding the bench in raised position.

()ne embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of the side wall of a greenhouse, shown in conjunction with a bench constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a supporting frame for a bench of the characteramentioned, constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a detail View, on an enlarged scale of a modified construction, showing the construction and arrangement of the dumping edge of the bench retaining frame.

The particular use for which this invention is designed is to provide ready and efficient means for erecting greenhouse benches in flower shows, the soil or earth for the benches being capable of being quickly discharged from the said benches. When the frame is employed for permanent structure, as in greenhouses, the central standards 8, 8 are preferably secured in the cement of the flooring of the greenhouse, forming thereby a rigid structure. Any material may be employed in the construction of these frames, that preferred by me being pipe sections, as shown in the drawings. When employing pipe sections a central or pivotal rod 9 may be pivotally mounted on the standards 8 by providing T-couplings 10, 10 for the said standards, the said couplings being reamed out to remove the thread usually provided. The rod 9 is prevented from laterally shifting by pins 11, 11. There are as many standards 8, 8 as the length of the bench Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. August 16, 1910.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

Serial No. 577,504.

frame requires. As a rule the standards 8, 8 are disposed at intervals of about five feet between.

The frame for supporting the bench box 12 is formed of the central rod 9 and side rods 13, 13, the said rods being disposed in parallel arrangement. At suitable intervals cross braces 14, 14 are provided. At the ends the end rods 15, 15 are provided. When the frames are constructed from pipe sections as shown in the drawings, the joints are preferably formed by pipe couplings as therein shown. Where four sections are united 4-way couplings 16, 16 are employed. Where the central rod 9 is united to the end rods 15 and the cross braces 14 are united to the side rods 13, the

junction is formed by T-couplings, 17, 17.

At the corners and at the ends of the frame, where the side rods 13 and the end rods 15 are joined, L-couplings 18, 18 are employed.

In arranging the metal frame for carrying the bench 12 the central rod 9 is purposely disposed at the rear of the longitudinal median line of the frame. In this manner the major portion of the weight of the bench is carried by the front supporting legs 19, 19. The remainder of the weight is carried by the standards 8 and the legs 20, 20. The legs 19 and 20 are, when constructed of pipe sections, provided with pivotal connections formed by couplings 21, 21. The couplings 21, 21 are similar in construction to the couplings 10 provided for the standards 8, and are similarly reamed to remove the screw threads usually provided in said couplings.

To dump the earth from the bench l)OX 12 the same is uptilted, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1. To accomplish this the legs 19 are retracted from the upright position shown in said Fig. 1. It is to provide for the retraction of the feet of the legs 19 that each is provided with a caster roller 22. To retract the legs 19, 19 simultaneously and thus dump the bench boX 12, I have provided the horizontal rod 23, which rod is pivotally mounted in clamps 23 and fixedly secured on each of the standards 8. At one end or the other of the rod 23 is fixedly mounted a crank handle 25. The crank handle 25 is provided with any suitable handhold 26. Operatively connecting the legs 19, 19 and the rod 23 are levers 27 and pitman rods 28, 28. The levers 27 and rods 28 are so arranged that when the legs 19, 19

are extended in holding position the joint between the lever 27 and the pitman rod 28 is slightly raised above the plane passing between the center of the rod 23, the said pivotal joint between the lever and rod, and the pivotal connections 29, 29 of the pitmen with the legs 19. In this manner the legs are prevented from collapsing and the bench from being accidentally dumped.

The bench box 12 is held in position upon the frame by means of an edge plate 30. The plate 30 is preferably constructed from a T-bar, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, but may be constructed from any suitable metal bar. Pivotally connected at 31 are hinges 32. The hinges 32 are fixedly connected to side doors 33 forming the outer side of the bench. The side doors 33 are held in position by means of latches 34, 34, of which there are as many' as may be required. When the latches 34:, 3%, are released the doors 33, 33 fall, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to permit the earth to be delivered from the side of the bench when the bench is upturned, as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 1. After being dumped and the bench is returned to the upright position, the doors 33 are raised in vertical position and the latches 34- are secured, as shown in the drawings. It will be understood that the crank handle may be removed from the rod 23 during such time as the bench is maintained in its normal position.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown a modified form of the edge plate 30, wherein are employed plugs 35 arranged to extend within the couplings 36, 36 and to be secured therein by means of pins 37. This form of construction is advantageous although not necessary to the operation of the present invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A greenhouse bench, comprising a metal frame; a plurality of vertical standards pivotally connected with said frame and longitudinally disposed thereunder at one side of the longitudinal median line thereof; a plurality of supporting legs pivotally connected with said frame; a shaft pivotally mounted on said standards and ex tended lengthwise of said bench; and a plurality of pull rods operatively connecting said shaft and certain of said legs where by the said legs are retracted from their vertical position by the rotation of said shaft.

2. A greenhouse bench, comprising a metal frame; a plurality of vertical standards pivotally connected with said frame and longitudinally disposed thereunder at :ne side of the longitudinal. median line thereof; a plurality of supporting legspivotally connected with said frame, certain of said legs having rolling carrying members mounted thereon; a shaft pivotally mounted on said standards and extended lengthwise of said bench; and a plurality of pull rods operatively connecting said shaft and certain of said legs whereby the said legs are retracted from their vertical position by the rotation of said shaft.

3. A greenhouse bench, comprising a metal frame; a plurality of vertical standards pivotally connected with said frame and longitudinally disposed thereunder and at one side of the longitudinal median line thereof; a plurality of supporting legs pivotally connected with said frame; a shaft pivotally mounted on said standards and extended lengthwise of said bench; a plurality of pull rods operatively connecting said shaft and certain of said legs whereby the said legs are retracted from their vertical position by the rotation of said shaft; and a metal edging vertically disposed on the lowering side of said frame to hold the bench in position on said frame when inclined.

4. A greenhouse bench, comprising a metal frame; a plurality of vertical standards pivotally connected with said frame and longitudinally disposed thereunder at one side of the longitudinal median line thereof; a plurality of supporting legs pivotally connected with said frame; a shaft pivotally mounted on said standards and extended lengthwise of said bench; a plurality of pull rods operatively connecting said shaft and certain of said legs whereby the said legs are retracted from their vertical position by the rotation of said shaft; a metal edging vertically disposed on. the lowering side of said frame to hold the bench in position on said frame when inclined; a side for said bench pivotally connected at the bottom thereof adapted to be extended into vertical position; and means for locking the said side in said vertical position. Y

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. HUGO PLADECK. 

